Device for transforming strips of material into dimensioned pieces

ABSTRACT

A device for transforming strips of material into dimensioned pieces comprising means to make transverse cuts in the strip so as to define substantially the length of the short pieces to be obtained and means to recut the fragments so obtained in a direction which is different from that of the initial cut in order to obtain short pieces having the requisite dimensions.

United States Patent 1191 Pietrucci et a1.

[ Nov. 6, 1973 1 DEVICE FOR TRANSFORMING STRIPS 0F MATERIAL INTODIMENSIONED PIECES [76] Inventors: Andre Pietrucci, 6, rue

Andre-Dessaux; Pierre lmbert, 30, rue des Fosses, both of 1Fleury-Les-Aubrais; Jean Berthou, 3 bis, rue des 3 Croissants, 0rleans;Claude Juston, 16, rue Anatole, St. Jean De Braye, all of France 22Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 171,959

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation ofSer. No. 871,726, Aug.13, 1969.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 2, 1965 France 6530168 Mar.31, 1966 France 6655929 [52] U.S. Cl 83/302, 83/1, 83/337, 83/343,83/408, 83/424, 83/906 [51] Int. Cl 826d l/36 [58] Field of Search83/302, 337, 343,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,870,840 1/1959 Kwitek83/302 X 1,256,658 2/1918 Cameron et all. 83/302 X 2,256,082 9/1941Feurt .1 83/343 X 759,071 5/1904 Brooks......... 83/678 X 1,487,6623/1924 Langston 83/302 X 1,957,864 5/1934 Tuttle et a1. 83/408 X2,739,647 3/1956 Coste 83/408 X 3,008,366 11/1961 Taylor, Jr. 83/302 X3,381,563 5/1968 Bishop 83/673 X Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost.Attorney-Maxwell E. Sparrow et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for transforming strips of material intodimensioned pieces comprising means to make transverse cuts in the stripso as to define substantially the length of the short pieces to beobtained and means to recut the fragments so obtained in a directionwhich is different from that of the initial cut in order to obtain shortpieces having the requisite dimensions.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTED NOV 6 I973 SHEET 3 OF 6PAIENTEDnnv 6l973 3.769866 SHEET 50F 6 1 DEVICE FOR TRANSFORMING STRIPSOF MATERIAL INTO DIMENSIONED PIECES This application isa continuation ofmy application Ser. No. 871,726 filed Aug. 13, 1969.

This invention relates to a method and device whereby continuous stripsof material which is mainly presented in rolls is cut into pieces ofpredetermined length and width by a double cutting process.

The method and device referred to are specifically designed to reduce tosections in the form of either cut rods or so-called short pieces astrip of material which has small thickness as well as a low degree ofrigidity and compactness. Said method and device may be applied to anymaterial which is comparable with paper, and in particular toreconstituted tobacco-leaf material which is intended to be incorporatedin the smoking product in the form of shjortpieces.

Whether the starting material is employed alone or blended with naturaltobacco leaves or fragments of leaves, it is possibleto transform suchmaterial into short pieces by means of conventional manufacturingprocesses. These processes consist in subjecting a relativelysubstantial mass of tobacco to the action of a chopping-knife under highcompression. However, the high degree of compression which is exerted onthe reconstituted tobacco is conduciveto the adhesion of short pieces toeach other and this in turn leads to a number of disadvantages, all ofwhich affect the quality of the manufactured product. For these reasons,it can be found preferable to perform a separate chopping operation' andto bring the reconstituted tobacco to the chopping-knife in a smallnumber of superposed layers, thereby requiring onlya low degree ofcompression and consequently ensuring that the short pieces no longerdisplay any tendency to stick together.

The present invention is thus more especially applicable to thecontinuous manufacture of short pieces of reconstituted tobacco whichare cut from a strip fed from a roll.

The strips of so-called reconstituted tobacco which are usually employedhave dimensions which are substantially greater than those of the shortpieces to be obtained, with the result that the cutting must be doublein order to produce pieces of suitable length and width.

This invention relates to a'method of double-cutting of continuousstrips of material into pieces of predetermined length and width wherebytransverse cuts are made in the strip so as to define substantiallythelength of the short pieces to be obtained, the fragments thus obtainedbeing then re-cut in a direction which is different from that of theinitial cut in order to obtain short pieces having the requisitedimensions.

The method of the invention is characterized in that the transverse cutsconsist of non-continuous incisions.

The transverse cuts can either be at right angles to the edge of thestrip or not and may or may not be made at a distance from each otherwhich corresponds to the requisite length of each short piece.

The cuts made by .re-cutting may or may not be located at right anglesto the cuttingtline.

The present invention is also concerned with a device for cuttingcontinuous strips of material into short pieces of predetermined lengthand width, said device being additionallycapable of carrying out theaforesaid method in continuous operation and comprising two rolls forconveying the stripor superposed strips of material which are fed fromone or a number of rolls towards rotary cutting units associated withrotary recutting units which produce action in a direction which isdifferent from that of the cutting units, characterized in that itcomprises transverse-cutting units which are, adapted to produce anon-continuous cutting line.

Either one or a number of rotary units which generate a cylinder ofrevolution are adapted to pass in close proximity to the cutting edge ofa stationary blade and to apply the strip against this latter.

The counterpart against which the strip is applied can consist of barsrotating about one or a number of axes which are in parallel relationthereto.

The cutting blade or blades and the counterpart can be rotary.

Duringthe cutting operation, the layer of material can be held inposition by rotary units which are placed on each side of the cuttingline in such a manner that the penetration of the rotaryblade or bladesinto the strip of material does not entail the need of any counterpart.

Conveyor rollers or cylinders which are adapted to grip the strip on theupstream and/or downstream side of the cutting line are adapted to applytension to the strip while the cutting operation is in progress.

A guide can be placed between the units which serves to hold the stripwith a view to reducing the span of said strip.

The units employed for holding "the strip during the cutting operationcan consist on the, upstream side of;

a pair of feed rolls and on the downstream side of thrust-bars which mayor may not be mounted radially on av rotary shaft and which apply thestrip against an inactive portion of the rotary blade-carrier unit.

Retractable elements can be disposed in said inactive portion.

The cutting blades can have serrated edges.

The speed of the' rotary units which initiate the transverse-cuttingoperation and/or apply tension tov the strip during the cuttingoperation can be higher than the speed of the strip at the input end ofthe device.

The transverse out can be made by one or a number of cutting bladeswhich are subjected to a noncontinuous movement of rotation with anacceleration which facilitates the penetration of thecutting blade orblades into the strip.

The rotary blades can be inclined tangentially to the direction ofdisplacement thereof with respectto the axis of rotation.

The positions of the cutting blades can be such that their cutting edgesare displaced at the moment of engagement with the strip and relativelyto said strip in a direction parallel to their paths on a transversesectional plane of the device.

The rotary cutting blades can be spaced-over the useful length of thetransverse-cutting unit in such a manner that each cut consists ofnon-continuous incisions.

The length, number and arrangement of the cutting blades about the axisof rotation can be such that the incisions resulting from one cutting,operationcorrespond to the uncut spaces of the previouscuttingoperation.

The arrangement of the cutting blades which make the non-continuousincisions can be :such that only one edge of the strip is cut duringeachcutting operation.

The short pieces which are derived from the transverse-cutting operationcan be conveyed to the longitudinal re-cutting unit through asubstantially vertically passageway.

Said passageway can be constituted by two rows of rods, the axes ofwhich can be parallel to the direction of displacement of the shortpieces.

Feed rolls which rotate at the appropriate speed can cooperate with thepassageway.

The axis of rotation of the re-cutting units can be located so that thecutting edges thereof make oblique cuts with respect to the direction offeed.

The fragments of strips which are derived from the transverse-cuttingoperation can be conveyed to the longitudinal re-cutting unit by virtueof the position and oblique location of the axis of said longitudinalrecutting unit with respect to the axis of the transversecutting unit insuch a manner that the extremity of one strip is taken by the re-cuttingunit prior to its release by the cutting unit. '1

The transverse-cutting units can be disposed at equal distances from theaxis of rotation in an asymmetrical manner.

The system which controls the motion of the rotary units, initiates thetransverse-cutting operation and applies tension to the strip during thecutting operation can be so arranged as to vary the speed of rotationthereof at predetermined intervals.

The speed of said units vary in a continuous manner.

Rolls can be applied against the longitudinal-cutting discs at themid-point of the span of the shaft on which said discs are supported ina position which is substantially diametrically opposite to the cuttingline.

The longitudinal-cutting unit can comprise two stacks of discs mountedon two parallel shafts and held in position by spacer members, saiddiscs being disposed in interjacent relations to a predetermined andadjustable extent. The disc can be provided with a plane cutting edgeand so designed that the strips which are introduced therein are cut tothe thickness of a disc or of a spacer member.

However, by means of an arrangement of this type, the ribbons ordimensioned pieces which are thus cut to size have a tendency tov windaround the spacer members and to remain between the discs and to resultin clogging.

In order to forestall any danger of winding or clogging of the ribbonsor pieces which are cut around the spacer members between the cuttingdiscs, provision can be made for guides which occupy the bottom of eachchannel substantially in the zone of interengagement between discs andwhich extend on each side of said zone in such a manner as to definepassageways for the material which is to be cut or which has been cut.

In order to ensure that the material to be cut is correctly conveyed andthat the cut material is correctly discharged, the guides can beassociated on each side thereof with solid plates which are. broughtlevel with the volume described by each stack of discs and designed toextend the passageways over at least the full length of the stacks.

The guides can be selected from any suitable material; it appearspreferable to select a material which has lower strength than the discsand spacer members in order that said guides may thus be readilyreplaced in the event of rapid wear.

A number of practical modes of application of the invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplified illustration of incisions which are formed in astrip of material in accordance with the method herein described.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device and corresponding to one mode ofapplication of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line III- III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a device showing a different mode ofapplication of a transverse-cutting operation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another mode of application.

FIG. 6 is an overhead plan view of the central portion of thelongitudinal-cutting unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a device in which the longitudinal cuttingoperation is carried out prior to the transverse cutting operation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a particular relative position of twodevices for successive cutting.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the system of interconnection of twosuccessive-cutting devices.

FIG. 10 shows a particular arrangement of a cutting blade on atransverse-cutting drum.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative form of thelongitudinal-cutting unit fitted with guides constituted by plates inwhich specially designed openings have been cut.

FIG. 12 is a partial view in elevation in the direction of the arrow aof FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, incisions are made transversely in the strip 1 whichwill then be cut lengthwise. The incisions are complementary from onecutting line to the other and are formed on only one edge in each line.

As shown in FIGS.2 and 3, there are disposed from the upstream and tothe downstream and the roll 35 of strip to be cut, the roller 36 at theextremity of the arm 37 which is capable of absorbing variations intension of the layer of material by virtue of the spring 38, feed rolls2 and 3, the blade-carrier cylinder 5 and its counterpart 6 or. backingroll which is coupled to the regulating unit 7, the stacks of discs 8and 9 for the longitudinal cutting operation. The cutting blades 10 aremounted lengthwise along the blade-carrier cylinder 5 so as to form theincisions shown in FIG. 1. The level 11 permits the separation of therolls 2 and 3 for the introduction of the strip by producing therotation of the shaft 33 to which the arm 4 is rigidly fixed, said arm 4being adapted to apply the roll 3 against the roll 4 in the normalposition thereof under the action of the restoring spring 34. The driveto the complete assembly is effected by the unit 12 which produces therotation of the different shafts by means of transmission belts, chainsor gearings.

The transversecutting unit of FIG. 4 comprises from the upstream endtothe downstream end the feed rolls 2 and 3 which can either be separatedor held applied against each other by means of a tensioning device whichproduces action on the member 13, the rotary blade-carrier cylinder 14and the thrust-bar carrier 16 which is located in oppositely facingrelation thereto. The blade-carrier l4 and the thrust-bar carrier 16rotate substantially at the same speed and in opposite directions. Thecutting blades 10 are mounted lengthwise along the cylinder 14 in such amanner as to penetrate during their movement of rotation into therecesses 17 of the thrust-bar carrier 16 without coming into contactwith the counterpart. Retractable pushers or thrustbars 18 are appliedagainst the cylinder 14 so as to bear on the portions of said cylinderwhich are located between the cutting blades.

The thrust-bars 18 are retractable by virtue of the assembly (not shownin the drawings) of the cylinder 16 which is supported at the shaft endsby meansof linkarms. The cylinder 16is provided with channels 39 inwhich is engageable the top portion of the plate 40 for the purpose ofguiding the short pieces within the passageway which is formed by thetwo elements 41 and 42.

Flexible tongues 43 are mounted on the cylinder 14 between the cuttingblades. A guide 44 is disposed between the feed rolls 2 and 3 and thecutting unit 14 16.

The tangential velocity at the point of contact of the cylinders 14and"l6 is higher than the tangential velocity at the point of contact ofthe rolls 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a serrated cutting blade 19 ismounted on ahollow cylinder 20 withinwhich a shaft 21 is adapted to rotate. Therotary cylinders 2 and 3 are fed rolls for conveying the strip 1 and areapplied against each other under the action of balance-weights 48.

A coil spring 24 is attached at one endof the cylinder 20 and at theother end to the shaft 21. A retractable stop 25 is capable of arrestingthe cuttingblade 19 by means ofa lug. 'which is integral with thecylinder 20. The cam 26is made fast for rotation with the shaft21 andserves to withdrawthe stop 25 at the proper moment. Stationary bars 27are additionally adapted to penetrate into the channels 45 which areformedin the roll 2. Said bars are spaced in such a manner as to enablethe serrated cutting edge to pass through and perform the function of acounterpart, thereby preventing the strip from retracting under theimpact. Provision is additionally made on the apparatusfor a brakingsystem which is designed to slow down the movement of the cutting blade19 at the end of travel. Said braking system is made up of a cam 47which is integral with the cylinder and adapted to brake said cylinderby frictional contact within the rounded cavity of the shoe 48 which isfitted on the oblique arm 49. Said arm 49is capable of performing apivotal movement about the pin 50 in such a manner that the minimumspacing which is provided with respect to the arm 51 by virtue of theadjustable rod 52 can be increased to theextent which is necessary inorder that the cam 47 may be freed from the obstruction formedby theshoe 4821s a result of the elongation of the spring 53.

As shown in FIG. 6, the discs 22 and spacer members 23 which are mountedon two parallel shafts have a flat edge and are placed ininterfittingrelation. Rolls 28 are provided for the purpose ofsupporting the center of the span.

FIG. 7 shows a stationary cutting blade 29 which is mounted on a frame54 and against which the strip 1 is applied periodically under theaction of bars 30 which are arranged as on a squirrel cage which isrotatable about the shaft 31*. That portionof the bars which is locatedat the greatest distance from the center describes a circumference whichpasses close to the cutting edge of the knife-blade. A ledger-plate 55is disposed above the cutting blade 29.

FIG. 8 is a drawing which shows an alternative form of the invention inwhich the transverse-cutting and longitudinal-cutting. axes are obliquerelative to each other. There'are mounted on the frame 56 from theupstream end to the downstream end the roll 35 of strip material to becut, the feed rolls 2and 3 (only the roll 2 being shown in the figure),a guide passage 57, the

transverse-cutting cylinder 56, a guide passage 59, a pair of feed rolls60 and the cutting cylinders 8 and 9, only one of which isshown in thefigure. The axes of the units 60, 8 and 9 are oblique with respect tothe other rotating members.

As shown in FIG. 9, the strips of material are conveyed between thetransverse-cutting and the longitudinal re-cutting units by means of apassageway which is defined by rods 32 disposed on each side of the pathfollowed by the strips 1'.

FIG. 10 shows a particular arrangement of a cutting blade 10 which isfixed on the cutting cylinder in such a manner that its cutting edge islocated at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of rotation 61.

The device which is represented in FIGS. 2 and 3 operates as follows:

The continuous strip 1 which is conveyed by the rolls 2 and 3 issubjected to transverse-cutting operations between the cylinders 5 and6. The cutting blades 10 are so arranged as to form incisions as shownin FIG. 1. These incisions have been made in such a manner that thestrip retains sufficient strength and rigidity between thetransverse-cutting operation performed between the cylinders 5 and 6 andthe longitudinalcutting operation which is performed between thecylinders 8 and 9. Accordingly, the cutting blades 10 of the cylinder 5have been disposed in such a manner that the incisions of one cuttingoperation correspond to the uncut spaces of the previous cuttingoperation and that an incision is made in only one edgev of the strip atthe time of each cutting operation. Asis readily apparent, the lengthand number of segments of cutting blades can be other than those shownin the drawing. It is not essential to ensure that the cutting bladesegments should make incisions which are equidistant in the longitudinaldirection. It may even prove an advantage to distribute the cuttingblades 10 over thebladecarrier cylinder 5 in such a manner as to obtainshort pieces having different lengths in predeterminedproportions, inwhich case the length, number and arrangement of theincisions of onecutting operation are determined as a function of the size distributionofthe product which it is desired to obtain and of the incisions made atthe time of previous cutting operations.

The device which is constructed in accordance with By means of thissystem, the strip is supported and.

maintained under tension by virtue of a tangential velocity of the unit14 16 at the point of contact which is higher than the tangentialvelocity which is imparted to the strip by the rolls 2and 3. Thecuttingofthe strip is accordingly accompanied by tearingat the points ofleast resistance. In accordance with this form of embodiment, thecutting blades can be provided with s'erratedcutting edges. In thiscase, the cutting operation becomes a perforating operation performed ina broken line, followed by tearing away along this line.

The operation is carried out in a more satisfactory manner by reducingthe span of the layer of material between the units 2 3 and 14 16 bymeans ofa guide 44. The operation can be made even more effective bymeans of the tongues 43 which serve to discharge in the direction of theguide 40 the pieces which have been cut within the passageway which isformed by the two elements 41 42.

The velocity which is imparted by the unit 14 16 to the cut strip 1 canbe varied over a higher range of values than that of the strip 1. TI-Ievariation can be effected by known means at predetermined time intervalsor in a continuous manner. Such variations make it possible to obtainstrips having different widths and consequently short pieces havingdifferent lengths. The circumstances can be turned to profitable accountby obtaining a distribution of short pieces in lengths which conform toa pre-established standard. Such a result can also be achieved by meansof an asymmetrical distribution of the cutting blades and thrust-barsover the peripheries of the cylinders 14 and 16.

In accordance with another form of embodiment of the invention, it isalso possible to obtain a predetermined distribution of the lengths ofshort pieces by virtue of the oblique position of the axis of thelongitudinal-cutting unit with respect to the transverse cutting lineand by virtue ofa suitable choice of the spacing between two successivetransverse cuts. This position can correspond to FIG. 8, which offers afurther advantage in that it can be usefully employed for-the purpose ofengaging one corner of the strip so as to draw this latter into thelongitudinal cutting unit 8 9 prior to its release by thetransverse-cutting unit.

The device which is constructed in accordance with FIG. operates asfollows:

The strip 1 which is conveyed by the rolls 2 and 3 passes beneath aflying cutter of the periodic action type. During one portion of thecycle, the serrated knife or cutting blade 19 which is attached to thehollow cylinder 20 is maintained stationary by the action of the stop 25on a lug whilst the continuously rotating shaft 21 tightens the coilspring 24. When the cam 26 which is integral with the shaft 21 withdrawsthe retractable stop 25, thespring is released, thereby initiating therapid rotation of the hollow cylinder and consequently the cutting blade19, whereupon the teeth of the cutting blade penetrate into the stripand tear this latter in a zig-zag line. During the cutting operation,the strip is supported by the bars 27 which perform the function of acounterpart.

The lug 15 and the braking cam 47 are in a stationary relative positionand are both fast with the cutting blade in such a manner that thebraking action produced on the cam 47 by the shoe 48 commences as soonas the cutting blade has struck the layer of material.

THe longitudinal re-cutting unit of FIG. 6 receives the strip or stripsbetween the two stacks 8 and 9 of discs 22. Spacer members 23 serve tohold the discs together. The rolls 28 prevent any deflection of theblade-carrier shafts and thus make it possible to set the distance ofpenetration of the two discs between each other at a smaller value.

The cutting device of FIG. 7 operates by transverse cutting which isperformed by the stationary blade 29 against which the strip is appliedperiodically by the bars 30. In the example of the figure, the strip isfirst cut into ribbons by means of a unit of the type shown in FIG. 6and the cutting blade 29 cuts said ribbons crosswise.

It is readily apparent that the order of operations of FIG. 7 can bereversed, in which case the connection can be established by means ofapassageway which can be adapted to cooperate with feed rolls forreprocessing the strips after transverse cutting.

In accordance with any one of the embodiments hereinabove described, thecutting blade or blades can be mounted on the blade-carrier cylinder insuch a manner as to make the transverse cutting operation moreprogressive; this result can be achieved in particular in the mannerwhich is shown in FIG. 10 by inclining the cutting blades tangentiallyto the axis of rotation. The counterparts can also be inclined in asimilar manner.

In the device of FIG. 4, the cutting operation can also be improved byso determining the inclination of the cutting-blade path in the plane ofthe cross-section shown that, at the moment of engagement with thestrip, the cutting edge is caused to beat the strip parallel to thedirection which is materialized by the cutting path.

In the example of construction which is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12,the rotary units for longitudinal cutting are constituted as shown inFIGS. 2 and 6 by discs 101 mounted on parallel shafts l 11 and 112. Saiddiscs are separated by spacer members 102 of smaller diam eter and areso arranged that one disc of one stack pene' trates exactly and to agiven variable distance between two discs of the second stack.

The two guides 103 and 104 are fixed on the crossmembers 109 and 110 andthe discs 101 penetrate into the openings 106 provided in the plateswhich constitute the guides, the top edge 107 and bottom edge 108 ofwhich provide a tight seal.

The strip or strips 113 are delivered from the apparatus at 114 or at115, depending on whether they have passed over the spacer members onthe side corresponding to the guide 104 or 103 respectively.

It can now be visualized that, when the strip 113 passes between thecutting discs, said strip is carried along and cut into ribbons having awidth equal to the width of the space member. The ribbons are pushedforward and, as a result of the movement of rotation of the discs, arealso pushed towards the spacer members in front of which they encounterthe guides which are inserted therein. Said ribbons are separated inthis manner from the movement of rotation, slide over the full length ofthe guide and are then freely discharged.

As is understood, it would also be feasible to make use of a number ofsimilar plates placed end to end by simple juxtaposition in such amanner as to facilitate their disassembly.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for cutting a strip of material into short pieces ofpredetermined lengths or widths, said device comprising transverseincision means for producing successive parallel spaced incision linestransverse to said strip, said transverse incision means comprising afirst rotating member carrying a plurality of cutting blades, each ofsaid blades having a cutting front edge and a rear edge, said bladesbeing spaced around the lateral surface of said first rotatingmember,rotary longitudinal cutting means for producing parallelcontinuous cutting lines recutting said transverse incision lines, firstrotating means located upstream of said transverse incision means forconveying said strip, and second rotating means located downstream ofsaid transverse incision means for holding said strip in position duringthe action of said transverse incision means, said second rotating meansbeing operable to permit said incision action without a counter member,said second rotating means comprising a second rotating member rotatingin a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said firstrotating member, a plurality of thrust members on said second rotatingmember, each one of said thrust members having a free end and beingspaced around the lateral surface of said rotating member, said thrustmembers being disposed whereby said free ends thereof may come intocontact with said lateral surfaces of said first rotating member in thefree spaces between said cutting front edges of said cutting blades andsaid rear edges of said following blades, said free ends of said thrustmembers pressing said strip against said lateral surfaces of said firstrotating member.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said strip is a continuousstrip of material.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said short pieces have alength corresponding to said distance between said successive transverseincision lines and having a width corresponding to the distance betweensaid longitudinal cutting lines.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said successive parallelspaced incision lines transverse to said continuous strip arenon-continuous.

5. A device according to claim 1, said cutting blades being mounted onsaid surface of said first rotating member with said cutting edgesthereof moving at the instance of engagement with said strip andrelatively thereto in a direction parallel to the paths thereof on atransverse sectional plane of said device.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second rotating meansare driving means and said first rotating means are braking means, saidfirst and said second rotating means being controlled for maintainingsaid strip under tension.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said driving means comprisesthrust bar means.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein said braking meanscomprises roll means.

9. A device for cutting a strip of material into short pieces ofpredetermined length and width, said device comprising transverseincision means and rotary longitudinal cutting means arranged injuxtaposition for successive operation on said material, said transverseincision means being disposed for producing longitudinally spacedtransverse incision lines across the width of said strip of materialless than the total width thereof, but two successive incision linestogether being disposed for covering said total width, and saidlongitudinal cutting means being disposed for producing parallel,continuous cutting lines substantially longitudinally of said strip.

1. A device for cutting a strip of material into short pieces ofpredetermined lengths or widths, said device comprising transverseincision means for producing successive parallel spaced incision linestransverse to said strip, said transverse incision means comprising afirst rotating member carrying a plurality of cutting blades, each ofsaid blades having a cutting front edge and a rear edge, said bladesbeing spaced around the lateral surface of said first rotating member,rotary longitudinal cutting means for producing parallel continuouscutting lines recutting said transverse incision lines, first rotatingmeans located upstream of said transverse incision means for conveyingsaid strip, and second rotating means located downstream of saidtransverse incision means for holding said strip in position during theaction of said transverse incision means, said second rotating meansbeing operable to permit said incision action without a counter member,said second rotating means comprising a second rotating member rotatingin a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said firstrotating member, a plurality of thrust members on said second rotatingmember, each one of said thrust members having a free end and beingspaced around the lateral surface of said rotating member, said thrustmembers being disposed whereby said free ends thereof may come intocontact with said lateral surfaces of said first rotating member in thefree spaces between said cutting front edges of said cutting blades andsaid rear edges of said following blades, said free ends of said thrustmembers pressing said strip against said lateral surfaces of said firstrotating member.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said stripis a continuous strip of material.
 3. The device as defined in claim 2wherein said short pieces have a length corresponding to said distancebetween said successive transverse incision lines and having a widthcorresponding to the distance between said longitudinal cutting lines.4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said successive parallelspaced incision lines transverse to said continuous strip arenon-continuous.
 5. A device according to claim 1, said cutting bladesbeing mounted on said surface of said first rotating member with saidcutting edges thereof moving at the instance of engagement with saidstrip and relatively thereto in a direction parallel to the pathsthereof on a transverse sectional plane of said device.
 6. The device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said second rotating means are driving meansand said first rotating means are braking means, said first and saidsecond rotating means being controlled for maintaining said strip undertension.
 7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said driving meanscomprises thrust bar means.
 8. The device as defined in claim 7, whereinsaid braking means comprises roll means.
 9. A device for cutting a stripof material into short pieces of predetermined length and width, saiddevice comprising transverse incision means and rotary longitudinalcutting means arranged in juxtaposition for successive operation on saidmaterial, said transverse incision means being disposed for producinglongitudinally spaced transverse incision lines across the width of saidstrip of material less than the total width thereof, but two successiveincision lines together being disposed for covering said total width,and said longitudinal cutting means being disposed for producingparallel, continuous cutting lines substantially longitudinally of saidstrip.